Okay people, I had the best time seeing Aims and Em yesterday, and her delightful cousins. First, she looks incredible and she thrilled DH with her running leap into his arms. Now it may have had something to do with the Orlando sun, but that would be a minor factor, but she was just glowing. And Emeline! All growed up and stuff, and even more lovely in person than her pictures.

We went to [link] . This is a restaurant owned by my BIL's BIL. Pouchon was in New Orleans for the weekend so timing was off there, but he had the chef bring us a round of free appetizers and discounted the whole bill 20%. Pouchon is a renowned chef and the food was nothing short of divine. (we were all trying each other's stuff) His restaurant is listed in the top 20 of Orlando/Kissimmee area and was the subject of the Cooking channel's Emeril's Florida. Seriously, the food was over the top scrumptious. There was even a jazz trio playing outside and one of the patron's sang a few songs.

Great people, great food, great entertainment. Seriously, I need more of these days in my life!

eta: decided to x-post to Natter to share the joy

Sj I'm sorry you have to deal with that.

Oh sj that sounds terrible :(

Ugh. I got so upset I gave myself a stomach ache. These are already the inlaws I have a tenuous relationship with. The fallout of this is going to be bad. I didn't start it. D's stepdad started it on purpose knowing my political beliefs. The things they were saying were just so horrible. No Mexicans work they're all just gaming the system. And hearing a man of Jewish descent say that no one Muslim should be let in this country purely on the basis of their religion is just mind boggling to me. It's equally as mind boggling to me when my Italian relatives say terrible things about immigrants.

Fuck this shit! TCG and I were quietly having a conversation about this stuff in the market, when some asshole overheard is and was obviously not happy. So he asked TCG what country he is from?!?

Ugh, sj. I'm sorry you have to grapple with this.

Jebus. Letting the racists off their leash is leading some ugly places.

Oh sj, that is just insane. I am trying to stand up to the crazy I encounter, but really I just want to run away to Buffista Island and never see or hear these people again.

I have friends that disagree politically that I can discuss things with without it getting personal and ugly. Far too few. Mostly it is just name calling with zero facts. And just depressing.

Thanks, everyone. In sorry to drag this in here. I just needed a safe place to vent. I'm home now. Still a little worked up.

No apologies. Sorry to say that we are all encountering more of this lately and it is more than a little upsetting.